DeKalb Schools approved as strategic waiver system

The state Board of Education has approved DeKalb County School District as a strategic-waiver school system, district officials said.

Being a strategic-waiver system means the district could obtain waivers from certain state laws, rules and guidelines, but would be held accountable by the state for increased student performance. That type of governance contract with the state was formerly known as Investing in Educational Excellence, or IE2.

"With the SWSS designation, we now have freedom from many of the restrictive state practices," Superintendent Steve Green said. "This freedom will allow the DeKalb County School District to continue on the road to student growth and achievement as evidenced in the recent CCRPI (College and Career Ready Performance Index) test scores and increases in graduation rates and SAT scores."

All districts across the state had to submit letters of intent on their form of governance last year by June 30. Options were charter district, strategic-waiver or status quo, no change.

The district was considering a change to a charter district, but pivoted late last year after hearing of changes to the system, and doing research after hearing several districts had chosen to change as well.

Questions arose in 15 public hearings across the district about governance on the local level in a charter district.

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